California Car / Permit practice question · Speed & Space Management
When following a large truck or bus that blocks your view, you should:
Answer choices
- Follow closely to save fuel
- Increase your following distance so you can see ahead— Correct answer
- Flash your lights to pass
- Stay in the truck's blind spot
Why this is the answer
A large truck or bus blocks your view of the road ahead, and tailgating it cuts your safe distance. Staying farther back gives you more time to react. Following closely never saves anything worth the risk, and lingering in the truck's blind spots, or No Zones, is dangerous because the driver cannot see you if you cannot see the mirrors.
Source: California Driver Handbook — Following Distance
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Speed & Space Management questions
- You should increase your following distance when:
- When you plan to exit a freeway, you should signal and move into the proper lane approximately how long before the exit?
- If another driver is following you too closely (tailgating), the safest response is to:
- When you merge onto a freeway, you should:
- As your speed increases, the distance needed to stop your vehicle: